Alberta producers to tackle industry direction

Alberta's pork producers will have the opportunity to
provide direct input into the direction of the province's pork industry in a
series of regional meetings held annually by Alberta Pork, the organisation
which represents the province's pork producers.

With a theme of “Looking Towards a Revitalised Future,” the meetings, to be
held throughout the province Nov. 10-14, 2008, offer producers the chance to get
an update on Alberta Pork activities of the past year, hear perspectives on key
issues facing the entire industry, and ask questions, says Tees, Alberta pork
producer Herman Simons, chairman of Alberta Pork.

Important
updates
“These meetings are also a chance for producers to receive
an important update on the action being taken to revitalise and reposition
Alberta's pork industry in the wake of turbulent market realities,” says Simons.
“This is something that directly affects the entire Alberta pork industry and
most pork producers, as well as those affected by the industry, will want to
attend.”

The meetings begin with a “state of the industry” presented by Simons
covering the activities Alberta Pork has participated in over the past year.
“These regional meetings are where producers are encouraged to give input or ask
questions on activities and initiatives that Alberta Pork is leading on behalf
of the industry,” says Simons.

Four regional meetings

Each of the four regional information meetings, to be held in Grande
Prairie, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Fort Saskatchewan, will follow a standard
format. Following the chairman's address, a presentation on “Regaining
Competitiveness: Alternative Feedstuffs for Swine” will be presented by either
Dr. Ruurd Zijlstra of the University of Alberta or Dr. Eduardo Beltranena of
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) and the state of World Trade
Organization negotiations will be the focus of a presentation by Darcy Davis
with the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, a coalition of national and regional
organisations, associations and companies advocating an open and fair
international trading environment for agriculture. Alberta Pork staff will make
presentations on current issues and activities throughout the day.

Pork producers welcome

All pork producers are welcome to attend one of the Alberta Pork Regional
Annual Meetings but are asked to register beforehand in order to provide
accurate numbers for meals. Producers can register by calling the
producer-direct toll-free line at 1-877-247-7675 or fax the Alberta Pork office
at (780) 479-5128. More information including full program details is available
on the Alberta Pork
website.